What exactly are the Norwood Scales for Hair Restoration?

What exactly are the Norwood Scales for Hair Restoration?

Male pattern baldness or Androgenic Alopecia is the type of the baldness affecting more than 70% of the men worldwide and 40% of the women. This is caused by the influence of the androgenic hormones. These hormones make the hair follicles to shrink, when this happens the nutrients cannot supply to the hair, hence, the hair follicles dies. This can be the fate of not just one hair, but for most of them when the hormones influence on them.

If you would like to see before and after hair transplant videos of actual patients just scroll down and select the Norwood Stage listings before. These are natural transplants and we have 100's of video for you to watch and learn about the Norwood-Hamilton Scale for male pattern baldness.

Why does our androgen cause Alopecia or baldness?

Under the action of the enzyme 5-alpha-reductase detected in cells of our hair bulb and hair papilla, testosterone is converted into the more active hormone called 5-alpha-dihydrotestosterone (DHT). Later, they act on the sensitive hair follicles and cause severe spasm of blood vessels, which causes the degeneration of follicles and leads to hair dystrophy. In fact, the hair on the head remains, but it is not fully-grown hair, but they forms short, thin and colorless, which are practically invisible, and they cannot cover the scalp, which shows us the picture of baldhead. The degenerated hair prematurely enters the telogen stage or the resting stage and they are not completed when they move on to the next stage. Therefore, the not fully-grown telogen age passes the hair to the next phase, which is the anagen, or the growth phase. Since the hairs in the telogen stage are almost dead, they can easily leave the skin during brushing, washing and drying. In addition, the hair follicles become small and thus the hair loses its length and the thickness. The sensitivity of follicles to DHT is determined primarily by heredity. Tendency to hair loss in 73-75% of cases is inherited through the maternal line, 20% from the paternal line, and only 5-7% of the people experiences androgenic alopecia without any hereditary connection.

Moreover, the hair follicles that are sensitive to the DHT or 5-alpha-dihydroxytestosterone are situated in the frontal as well as on the parietal region. This area can be described as the androgens dependent zone. However, the hairs on the occipital and on the temporal region are not sensitive to the DHT or 5-alpha-dihydroxytestosterone. Hence, they are described as the androgens independent zone.

Generally, there is no difference we can see with the mechanism of the development of the androgenic alopecia in men and in women, but the development of the alopecia pattern is different. Men are usually susceptible to the frontal hair loss and then the alopecia spreads to the parietal or the top most regions of the head. However, this is not true for women; they start from the middle region or of the parietal region and then the baldness spread to the frontal part of the head. However, the alopecia spares the occipital and the temporal region.

The Norwood Hamilton Scale, otherwise known as the Norwood Loss Scale, is a widely used and accepted standard for classifying male pattern baldness and hair loss. The original Norwood Scale was created in the 1950s by Dr. James Hamilton with adjustments and revisions in the 1970’s by Dr. O'Tar Norwood.

When exploring hair loss treatment options and setting expectations for hair growth after a hair transplant its important to understand where you fall on the Norwood Scale. Depending on your Norwood Scale classification hair loss cure options can be abundant or limited. Call us at 844-327-4247 to speak with a doctor and get your Norwood Scale questions answered. At Natural Transplants our friendly and knowledgable hair transplant surgeons are avalible to supply a Norwood Scale classification and review related hair restoration options FREE of charge.

NORWOOD 1NORWOOD HAMILTON SCALE

At the Norwood 1 Stage there is very little to no visible signs of hair loss.

If you have a history of hair loss or male pattern baldness in your family its important to periodically monitor for indications of thinning hair or a receding hairline regardless of your current Norwood Scale classification. Identifying changes early on and implementing a preventive hair loss treatment can stabilize or slow your hair loss.

NORWOOD 2NORWOOD HAMILTON SCALE

At the Norwood 2 Stage hair loss begins to become visible. Typically the hairline recession forms a triangular or wedge-shaped pattern in the temporal areas (front corners).

NORWOOD 3NORWOOD HAMILTON SCALE

At the Norwood 3 Stage the hair loss pattern is a deepening of the triangular or wedge-shaped pattern in the temporal areas (front corners) as seen in Norwood 2. Often referred to as a “widows peak” the temporal areas (front corners) are barely covered or fully exposed with no hair growth.

NORWOOD 3 VERTEXNORWOOD HAMILTON SCALE

At the Norwood 3 Vertex Stage the hair loss pattern is a deepening of the triangular or wedge-shaped pattern in the temporal areas (front corners) as seen in Norwood 2 in addition to the onset of hair loss in the vertex (crown). Often referred to as a “widows peak” the temporal areas (front corners) are barely covered or fully exposed with no hair growth combined with early hair thinning or hair loss in the vertex (crown).

NORWOOD 4NORWOOD HAMILTON SCALE

At the Norwood 4 Stage recession of the triangular or wedge-shaped pattern in the temporal areas (front corners) becomes progressively severe as companied to Norwood 3 and a general recession occurs in the frontal region. Hair loss in the vertex (crown) increases to form a bald spot more with heightened definition over Norwood 3 Vertex. A thick brand or bridge of hair divides the temporal areas (front corners) and vertex (crown).

If you have a history of hair loss or male pattern baldness in your family its important to periodically monitor for indications of thinning hair or a receding hairline regardless of your current Norwood Scale classification. Identifying changes early on and implementing a preventive hair loss treatment can stabilize or slow your hair loss.

NORWOOD 5NORWOOD HAMILTON SCALE

At the Norwood 5 Stage hair loss in the frontal areas, temporal areas (front corners), and vertex (crown) is enlarged compared to Norwood 4 and hair density is reduced. The brand or bridge of hair dividing the temporal areas (front corners) and vertex (crown) has narrowed and thinned.

NORWOOD 6NORWOOD HAMILTON SCALE

At the Norwood 6 Stage the brand or bridge of hair dividing the frontal areas, temporal areas (front corners), and vertex (crown) in Norwood 5 has disappeared leaving some “peach fuzz” or a fully bald areas. A “horse shoe” pattern is formed by hair remaining on the back and sides.

Hair transplant surgery isn't a 1 size fits all solution. There are many ways you can discover the hair transplant surgeons online. Medical hair transplants have existed for about 6 decades now. Goatee transplant is an ideal alternative for those that have minimal facial hair development.

Hair transplant is really a blessing to all or any such women and men who are able to finally have thick mane the same as others and go out in public proudly with no problem. There's another area of the secret the hair transplant industry will not want you to be aware of. The hair restoration business is comprised of three distinct categories. Hair loss is just a condition which affects billions of men and women throughout the world.